Cloth-measuring device



(No Model.) I

J. Q. BROWN.

CLOTH MEASURING DEVICE. No. 372,202. Patented 001;. 25, 1887.

21 I 'I' I I It WITNESSES: J4 mvnmon:

4525 2 BY JIM w ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. 'Phoio-Lihwgnpher, Wathlnglon, D. C.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOAB o. BROWN, or EAGLEVILLE, MissouEi.

CLOTH-MEASURING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 372,202, dated October 25, 1887.

Application filed March 9, 1887.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that l, J OAB Q. BROWN, of Eagleville, in the county of Harrison and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Cloth-Measure, of which the following is a full,

tures of construction and combinations of parts of the cloth-measu re, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this'specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a plan View of a roll or boltof cloth, partly' unwound and broken away to show the arrangement of the measuring-tape with the board on which the cloth is wound, and illustrates also the method of using the measure in selling the goods. Fig. 2 is an end View of the cloth bolt and measure. Fig. 3 is a View of one side of a portion of the measur ing-tape, and Fig. 4 is a view of the reverse side of the tape.

In carrying out my invention I attach the measuringtape A to the board or core B, on which the cloth 0 is wound, in a manner to allow the end of the tape to be drawn or reeled off or out from the board. The tape, as it lies reeled or wound up on the board or core A,has its outer end detachably connected or clamped to the outer edge of the cloth by a spring clamp device, D, of any construction suitable for the purpose.

In the preferred construction of the measure the tape A is rolled up and placed in a recess, E, made at or near the end of the board 0, and the outer end of the tape is passed through a slot, 6, leading from the recess to the extreme end of the board. A thin metal plate, F, is preferably let into the board across the open face of the slot to hold the tape therein; and to Serial No. 230,230. (No model.)

prevent too free unwinding of the tape I pass it between friction-surfaces, which may be the peripheries of two' rubber or rubber-faced rollers, G G, journaled at the end of the board, as shown or blocks or plates made of rubber or other material having frictional contact with the tape may be substituted for the rollers, if preferred.

Over the recess E, the tape A, placed therein, and the plate F and slot 6 a cover-plate, H, is secured, this plate preferably being made of stid paper pasted or glued fast to the face of away in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but will extend clear to the end of the board, as indicated by the dotted lines. Should the plate H be sufficiently stiff or heavy it will serve the purpose of the plate F, which may then be dispensed with.

The measuring-tape A is graduated alike at both faces into yards and parts thereof; but at one face the number of yards or other standard. measure is indicated by successive numerals, commencing at the end of the tape, as'will be understood from Fig. 3, while the yard-marks at, the other face of the tape will preferably be made heavy or very distinct, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In using the measure, the outer end of the tape A is detached or unclamped from the cloth, and after the required amount of cloth has been reeled off or unwound the tape is accordingly drawn out and laid along the edge of the cloth, and the number of yards or the desired length of the goods is readily ascertained, when the cloth and the tape will be out together, and the tape will show at the numbered face the precise-length of the goods remaining on the board or bolt. The unnumbered side of the tape enables the measuring to be done without the mental. confusion which mightarise from the passage of the numbers on the tape beneath the eye; hence the tape so marked or graduated facilitates accuracy in measurement of the goods, while at the same time forming an unerring tally of the amount of goods remaining on the board. After the piece wanted is cut from the bolt the tape will be clamped at the end of the goods remaining on the board with its numbered side or face out, and will show at a glance the amount of r the board 13. The paper cover is shown broken goods without removing the goods from the E goods, said measuring-tape adapted to remain shelves, whereon numerous bolts may be i connected to the board orcore whilebeing laid placed end outward, or so that the tapes can 5 be seen, and this is a great convenience in retailing the goods or taking account of stock.

It is obvious that by the use of this simple measuring device valuable dress-patterns need not be cut into and serious loss of time in retailing goods may be prevented. Furthermore, the goods may be measured off easily and cut more accurately than when a graduated measuriugtape is wound up at or near the center of the bolt, as has been done; and by holding the tape on or in the board of the bolt the goods are not wrinkled or marked or stained or caused to fade, as they are liable to be when a tape is wound up with the goods on the bolt, as will readily be understood.

The measuring-tape may be made of paper, cloth, or any other suitable material.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The clothmeasu re consisting ofthe board or core, upon which is wound or rolled a bolt of goods, and a measuring-tape applied to said board or core and adapted to remain connected thereto while being laid along the edge of the goods for measurement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The clotlrineasure consisting of theboard or core, upon which is wound or rolled a bolt of goods, and a measuringtape applied to said board or core and indicating the whole number of yards or quantity in the piece or bolt of along the edge of the goods for measurement, substantially as and for the purpose set lorth.

3. The cloth-measu re consisting of the board or core, upon which is wound or rolled a bolt of goods, and a mcasurii'ig-tape applied to said board or core and indicating the whole number of yards or quantity in the piece or bolt of goods, said 1neasuring-tape,as it lies reeled or wound up in the board or core,having one end detaohably connected or clamped to the outer edge of the goods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a clothmeasure, the eombinatiomwith the board'or core, upon which is rolled or wound a bolt of goods, of the measuring-tape applied to said board or core out of contact with the goods and adapted to remain connected to said board or core while being laid along the edge of the goods for measurement, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The method of measuring off goods, sub stantially as herein described, which consists in applying a measuringtape to the board or core, upon which is wound or rolled a bolt of goods, passing said tape out from said board or core and laying it along the edge of the goods for measurement, and cutting the tape in two with the cutting of the measured-off piece, as set forth.

JOAB Q. BROWN. \Vitnesses:

WM. B. PEARSON, G120. H. Looiiwoon. 

